OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
6 - 12 August 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Update on repatriation / refugees

UNHCR registered 2,048 Burundian refugees who arrived mostly from 
Tanzania through the entry points of Mabanda/Makamba province (553), 
Gisuru/Ruyigi province (694) and Kobero/Muyinga province (798). Three 
Burundians arrived from Ivory Coast. The current increase is expected to 
continue over this period (end of school year and harvest season); 
particularly due to the UNHCR Cash Grant incentive. Since January 2007, 
a total of 10,834 returnees have been recorded. So far, some 349,833 
Burundians have returned to their home country under the UNHCR 
facilitated repatriation process which began in April 2002.

UNHCR transferred 330 Congolese refugees from Bujumbura to the 
Musasa/Ngozi province transit centre. From January to date, 5,522 DRC 
refugees have been transferred to the Gasorwe refugee camp and Musasa 
transit center.

Assistance to Burundians expelled from Tanzania

The government project for the reintegration of war-affected persons 
(PARESI) registered 647 persons (279 families) who arrived from Tanzania 
through the entry point of Kobero/Muyinga province (542 persons/224 
families) and through Mishiha/Cankuzo province (105 persons/55 
families). Since January 2007 until date, PARESI has recorded 6,134 
expelled persons (3,073 families).

Protection: ongoing support to unaccompanied children

Through its project for Unaccompanied Minors (UAMs) supported by UNHCR, 
the International Rescue Committee (IRC) assisted 45 returnee 
unaccompanied children upon their arrival in Burundi. They were 
identified at the entry points of Muyinga, Ruyigi, Makamba and Bujumbura 
Mairie, reunited with their families and will each receive a protection 
monitoring. IRC equally provided them with school material and uniforms. 
This service package was also given to 3 expelled children from Tanzania 
with the support of UNICEF. Through advocacy, community protection focal 
points and IRC staff continue to ensure access to schools and community 
involvement in the reconstructions of houses for these children. In this 
regard, IRC provides aluminium sheets, doors, windows and poles while 
the local community contributes bricks and manual labour.

Sexual Gender-based violence

In collaboration with the family development centre in Ruyigi province, 
IRC held a provincial seminar on sexual abuse in the school milieu. It 
was attended by pupils, heads of schools, NGO representatives and the 
media. This activity was aimed at sensitizing populations against sexual 
violence.

Update on food aid In close collaboration with its implementing 
partners, WFP distributed 568 metric tons of food aid to 19,408 
beneficiaries nationwide.

Within the framework of extending its school feeding programme in the 
country, WFP held several meetings with partners working in this sector. 
Efforts were made to sensitize schools, parents and authorities (local, 
provincial and administrative) on WFP's intention to set up school 
canteens in more schools. Provinces which will benefit from this 
extension from the next school year in September include; Rutana, 
Makamba, Ruyigi and Muyinga. WFP continues to visit all eligible schools 
in order to analyze the feasibility and prevailing needs in each school. 
In these 4 provinces, WFP will work in collaboration with the government 
through the Ministry of Education, Caritas (Burundi and Belgium), 
International Medical Corps (IMC) and Fondation Stamm.

Food security: towards the rehabilitation of livestock

The FAO/Emergency Rehabilitation and Coordination Unit (ERCU) continued 
the distribution of goats to vulnerable families. During the week under 
review, distribution was carried out in the communes of Mabanda and 
Makamba/Makamba province. This scheme is aimed at facilitating the 
reintegration of returnees and displaced persons. All 350 targeted 
beneficiaries received 3 goats each out of 1,050 goats. Since the 
beginning of this project in 2006, 2,340 goats have been distributed.

Education: NRC support to the school reintegration of returnee children

Students of the Teacher's Emergency Package (TEP) education project 
being run by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) sat the end of year 
(2006-2007) examination. This exam was taken in preparation for their 
formal reintegration into primary schools in September. Classes will be 
allocated to students according to individual results obtained. An over 
50% overall success rate was registered: 777 students passed in Rutana, 
651 in Makamba, 1,861 in Ruyigi, 438 in Bujumbura Mairie, 1,108 in 
Bujumbura Rural and 1,386 in Muyinga.

This NRC education programme is no longer available in Muyinga province 
due to a decrease in the number of TEP target groups. However, NRC has 
started similar activities in the provinces of Bubanza and Cibitoke. In 
the province of Bubanza, a four-week training is currently being 
provided by NRC trainers and pedagogical advisors to 25 newly recruited 
teachers who will teach in TEP schools located in Bujumbura Rural, 
Mairie, Bubanza and Cibitoke.

Health/Nutrition

The 2007 World Breastfeeding Week was celebrated in Burundi under the 
theme 'Breastfeeding within the first hour of birth: Early initiation of 
breastfeeding and Exclusive breastfeeding over six months can Save One 
Million Babies'. All activities during his week were funded by UNICEF. 
With support from UNICEF, the national programme for health and 
reproduction (PNSR) organized a discussion forum attended by journalists 
and students from the Faculty of Medicine in the University of Burundi. 
Three main topics were discussed; Breastfeeding: a public health 
priority, early initiation of breastfeeding can save over 1 million 
babies, breastfeeding and HIV. The week was ended with a visit to 
traditional midwives and mothers in Kinama/Bujumbura Mairie. The first 
lady of Burundi equally took part in this visit.

UNICEF states that in Burundi:

- 74% of mothers breastfeed their children within the first hour of 
birth (82% in urban regions and 73% in rural areas);

- 44.7% of mothers practice exclusive breastfeeding for children less 
than six months old.

These figures reflect the urgent need to encourage mothers to initiate 
breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and to practice exclusive 
breastfeeding over the first six months.

Coordination

The OCHA monthly Contact Group meeting which was held under the 
chairmanship of the Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Youssef Mahmoud was 
attended by members of the humanitarian community. Two topics were on 
the agenda: Presentation of the International Conference on the Great 
Lakes Region (IC/GLR) by Ambassador Mulamula, Executive Secretary for 
the Great Lakes Region and a second presentation based on results of the 
agricultural season 2007B crop harvest evaluation was jointly presented 
by the FAO and WFP.

For more information: E-mail: ocha-burundi@un.org, Tel: +257 22 205000 
Ext. 5542

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